Pending China Tariffs Having A Chilling Effect On Spot Pe Prices On Resins For Plastic Molding Manufacturers And Companies

WHO’S AFFECTED?

FIRST, LET’S REVIEW THE
Plastic Molding Processes

Plastic
processes differ greatly in both the way they form plastic products and in the
shape and structural integrity of the products they manufacture. Plastic
molding processes vary greatly in cost. High end plastic molding processes,
such as rotational molding and injection molding, provide precision three
dimensional plastic parts with structural integrity and impact resistance few
other processes or materials can provide. On the other end of the spectrum,
blow molding and dip molding processes offer very affordable options for long
runs and mass production of containers and household commodity items. A wide
range of plastic materials are molded through these processes, although some
processes are more effective with certain polymers than others.

This
is one of the most common forms of plastic molding, and the process can range
widely in cost, depending on the complexity of the part being molded and the
materials which are used. Injection molding produces three dimensional, solid
parts with mid to high strength and is unique in plastic molding processes, as
it can produce relatively complex shapes. Advanced injection molding techniques
include insert molding and reaction injection molding (RIM); insert molding
dies contain a solid object, such as an electric coil, around which the molten
plastic is injected, creating an encapsulated object. Reaction injection
molding combines a liquid resin thermoset polymer (typically polyurethane) with
liquid polyisocyanate, which acts as a reagent within the mold, causing the
polymers to expand and form bubbles (either open or closed cell foam), filling
the mold.

Plastic extrusions are formed
similarly to the way injection molded plastics are formed, although extrusions
are formed through an open die.
Plastic resins such as PVC, acrylic, polypropylene or ABS are fed through a
hopper into the extruding barrel, which shears and melts the resin, pushing it
through the open die to form a profile or shape. This profile is immediately
immersed in cold water to set the plastic; the profile is extruded
continuously, passing through the die, through cold water tanks and onto a
sawing table, where pre-specified lengths are cut. Most common products are plastic tubing / and plastic tanks.

Numerous products are made from blow
molding. Any consumer item that has a
three-dimensional shape and is hollow, such as and plastic tanks and CD and carrying cases, is
manufactured using the blow molding process. Blow molded products are capable
of holding a variety of substances such as herbicides, pesticides, cosmetics,
and automotive oil. The plastic utilized for these processes are all
thermoplastic resins. They include acetal, polysulfone, polyamide, polystyrene,
butadiene styrene, Barex, polyvinyl chrloride (PVC), and high and low density
polycarbonate.

Dip molding plastic is one of the
simplest means of molding plastic and, like blow molding, is capable of
producing a large number of parts or products at low cost. The dip molding process serves in one of two manufacturing
capacities: to create whole flexible or rigid products such as rubber gloves,
condoms and plastic caps; or to coat pre-manufactured products such as wire
racks, wire cable and plastic coated handles.

Polyurethane is a material that is
valued for its uses in “memory foam” products due to its flexibility and
rigidity. Polyurethane is also a valuable
material for products such as solid plastic forms, polyurethane rods, urethane
wheels, urethane brushings, and urethane sheets. Urethane rolls is another
common product with American
Urethane being a leader. Polyurethane moldings have an excellent
reputation for their high performance. Their longevity is greater than that of
plastic, and are more impact-resistant than rubber. It also has elastic memory,
reduces noise, and is resistant to heat and chemicals. It possesses many of the
good qualities of metal, rubber, and plastics, and is capable of forming strong
adhesive bonds with most plastics and metals.

Rotational plastic molding is
capable of achieving plastic parts with more strength and structural complexity
than any other plastic molding processes.
Unlike other plastic molding methods, rotational molding produces a relatively
low volume of parts in what are typically short runs, due to the amount of time
and equipment required for rotational molding. Rotationally molded plastics may
not be mass produced like blow molded, dip molded or thermoformed parts, and
this process is typically reserved for complex or high-performance parts such
as plastic figurines and military-spec rackmount carrying cases.

Vacuum formed plastics are used as
faceplates and semi-flat components in a wide range of industries, particularly
in electronic equipment such as fax machines, keyboards, phones and home
appliances. Also known as thermoforming, or
pressure forming, the vacuum forming process begins with stock plastic sheets
rather than polymer resin pellets; these sheets are heated until the polymer
reaches a flexible temperature, then they are vacuumed into an open mold,
causing the heated sheets to “thermoform” to the exact shape of the die mold
beneath. Twin sheet thermoforming is commonly used to create large and precision
application parts such as hot tubs and interior wall panels for aerospace, but
thermoforming is also a highly cost-effective means of producing
three-dimensional plastic packaging. Blister packs, clamshells, plastic covers,
plastic trays and other plastic
packaging can be produced for
low costs at high runs by vacuum forming.

In the creation of
fiberglass-reinforced plastic products, fiberglass molding is the most
frequently used process. Fiberglass
is made when molten glass is extruded through very fine openings in a tool.
This extrusion process produces threadlike formations in the glass that are
later put through heat treatment or pressing and mixed with plastic resin.

Obviously, the plastic molding
industry is a large segment of our economy and consumers and suppliers will be
affected by the increases in cost from these tariffs.